I swabbed the inside of three one gallon ziplock bags and plated on blood agar. Incubating at 30-35. I let you know what, if anything shows up in a few days.

Not doubting that they are sanitary. I just was curious.

I looked at the plates today and.......no growth. Three days is usually plenty of time for most organisms. I'll hold on to the plates to see if anything shows up. The bags sampled were "Ziploc" one gallon. I'd say they're pretty clean, and I'll be using this method in the future.

Ironically enough, I just finished sterilizing my new mason jars as part of my next homebrew foray into yeast repitching when I stumbled across this thread.The Ziploc technique sounds pretty flawless. Has anyone used the technique to rinse yeast? Maybe dumping the trub out of the sanitized and cut corner of the bag and then diverting the flow of clean yeast into a new sterile Ziploc? I'm actually planning on harvesting today or tomorrow so all of your experienced input is welcome! Thanks-Greg

I like to use sanitized 1 liter seltzer bottles for harvesting yeast slurries...I get to drink the contents plus they are easy to sanitize, label and reuse. It's also nice to know that when I retire them, I can just pitch them in the recycling.

When using this method, are you taking out of the refrigerator to let them warm up and if so, how long before? I have to bottle an Amber Ale this weekend and use then pitch that yeast on a winter warmer, but I was hoping not to do them in the same day. Bottle on Friday, store yeast in ziplock in fridge, then pitch into new beer on Sunday. Would I need a min-starter to wake them up?

I always prefer to take the yeast right out of the fridge and pitch when it's still cold. I've seen enough evidence that it's a better way to do it that I'm convinced.....not to mention that I've had great success doing that.

I always prefer to take the yeast right out of the fridge and pitch when it's still cold. I've seen enough evidence that it's a better way to do it that I'm convinced.....not to mention that I've had great success doing that.